FOURTH-INNING HOMERS LIFT NO. 1 VANDY TO OPENING WIN
Wildcats Get Fourth Home Run of the Year from Max Kuhn; Game Two Set for 7 p.m. ET
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Connor Harrell and Zander Wiel connected on fourth-inning home runs to erase an early Kentucky lead and lift No. 1 Vanderbilt to an 11-2 series-opening win over the Wildcats, on Saturday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Kentucky (28-20, 10-15 Southeastern Conference) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on the strength of Max Kuhn’s fourth homer of the year. The Dores then used homers from Connor Harrell and Zander Wiel to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth, before busting the game open with seven runs on seven hits in the fifth.
UK starter A.J. Reed (2-7) had the rockiest start of his decorated two-year career, working five innings, allowing 12 hits and 10 runs, not issuing a walk and striking out one. Freshman Dylan Dwyer finished the game for the Wildcats, throwing four innings, surrendering one run on three hits while striking out one and walking one in the longest outing of his career.
The Wildcats totaled 12 hits in the game, marking the most hits allowed by the dynamic Vanderbilt pitching staff since April 16 vs. Tennessee Tech. It marked the most hits allowed by Vanderbilt in SEC play since surrendering 16 vs. Tennessee on March 31.
Kentucky received multi-hit games from Kyle Barrett, Austin Cousino, J.T. Riddle and Kuhn, with Riddle notching a team-high three hits and scoring one run. Barrett and Reida contributed RBI singles and Kuhn notched an RBI on his solo homer in the second. Fettes recorded his fifth double of the year in the ninth and eventually came around to score UK’s third run.
Vanderbilt (43-6, 22-2 SEC) starter Kevin Ziomek (10-2) worked six innings, allowing two runs – one earned – walking three and striking out four. Ziomek allowed seven UK hits, the second-most hits allowed in a start for the ace lefty in 2013. Freshman Walker Buehler, a native of Lexington, Ky., recorded a three-inning save, allowing one run on five hits, striking out two and walking one.
Connor Harrell led the Commodores offensively, knocking his ninth and 10th home runs of the year, while tallying three RBI. Wiel contributed two hits, driving in three runs and scoring two runs. Tony Kemp added three hits in the lead-off spot, scoring one run in the process.
The series will resume on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The game will be televised live on CSS and ESPN3.com. The game will also be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, available on WLAP 630-AM in Lexington, WKJK 1080-AM in Louisville and online at UKathletics.com.
Kentucky jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Kuhn knocked a solo homer over the left-centerfield wall.
Vanderbilt took the lead in the fourth with three runs on two homers. With one out, Mike Yastrzemski reached on a hit by pitch and Harrell brought him home with a two-run homer just over the right-centerfield wall. Wiel extended the lead an out later with a solo shot over the leftfield wall.
The Commodores plated seven runs in the fifth on seven hits. Jack Lupo and Kemp notched consecutive one-out singles to put runners on first and second. Back-to-back doubles from Xavier Turner and Yastrzemski scored Lupo and Kemp, with Vandy still nursing two runners in scoring position. After a hit by pitch, a ground out to first brought Turner home for the third run of the inning and with runners on second and third, Wiel delivered a two-RBI single. Vince Conde singled into left-centerfield with two outs and Vandy’s scoring was capped after a two-run single into right-centerfield from Spencer Navin that scored Wiel and Conde.
Kentucky scored one run in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, a sacrifice fly into centerfield from Barrett enabled Riddle to tag and score from third.
Harrell led off the top of the seventh for Vanderbilt with a solo home run to centerfield, his second homer of the afternoon.
The Wildcats added a run in the bottom of the ninth to finish the game at 11-3. Fettes led off the inning with a double into the right-centerfield gap. A Cousino walk and single from Riddle loaded the bases with no outs. UK converted on one run from the opportunity, as Reida singled through the left side to score Fettes.
GAME NOTES: Kentucky is now 4-4 in the white tops and white pants on the season … Kentucky is now 9-8 against left-handed starters in 2013 … The Wildcats are now 20-9 when playing in day games … Kentucky is 1-3 in the opener of a double header, with a 3-4 record overall … The Wildcats fall to 18-10 at Cliff Hagan Stadium in 2013, including a 6-7 mark in conference games … Kentucky’s record against top 25 opponents is now 6-12, and 1-5 going up against top 10 foes … The Wildcats drop to 20-8 when scoring first in the game … Kentucky turned their 51st double play this season when they ended the third inning on a ground ball that went 6-4-3.
· J.T. Riddle made his team-high 114th consecutive start.
· Kyle Barrett reached base with a line drive to leftfield to start the game, his 17th hit as the leadoff man.
o Extended his team-high hitting streak to 12 games.
o Doubled off a runner at first base in the top of the sixth inning to record his third outfield assist of the season.
o Recorded his 14th multi-hit game on the season and of his career.
· Micheal Thomas made his first career start at first base.
o Scorched his fifth two-out hit of the season with no one on in the bottom of the second.
· Austin Cousino hit number 5 in the order for the first time in his career. He had batted No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 the last two years.
o His bunt-single in the third inning gave him his 13th multi-hit game in 2013 and 41st in his career.
o Plunked by his 21st HBP this season, tied for second most in a single-season in Kentucky history.
· Max Kuhn ripped his fourth homerun of the season and fourth of his career in the bottom of the second inning.
o Recorded his 11th multi-hit game of his career with a single past the pitcher in the bottom of the fourth inning.
o Drew his team-high 35th walk of the season.
· Greg Fettes threw out his first runner of the season in the top of the third, the 22nd for the Wildcats this season.
· Matt Reida dropped his ninth sacrifice bunt of the season in the fourth inning.
· Dylan Dwyer pitched a career-high four innings in relief.
